Rail fastening devices

ABSTRACT

A device for use in securing a rail to a supporting means having a portion overlying and engaging the rail flange and a second portion overlying a supporting surface. The second portion has at least one engagement portion for engaging in the supporting surface and is adapted to be secured to supporting surface whereby rotational movement of the device is resisted.

United States Patent 11 1 Faville Mar. 12, 1974 [5 RAIL FASTENINGDEVICES 2,134,750 11/1938 Clark 238/349 2,161,259 6/1939 Lindsay 238/349[75] Londmi 2,257,923 10/1941 Verplanck 238/283 England 2,252,515 8/1941Landis 238/283 [73] Assignee: Kins Development Limited, Surrey,

- E l d Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-RichardA. Bertsch [22] F'led: May 1972 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrisebois &Kruger [21] Appl. No.: 254,856

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 238/349, 238/283 A vi for use in securing arail to a supporting [51] Int. Cl E0lb 9/30 m n having a portionoverlying and engaging the rail [58] Field of Search"; 238/349, 310,283, 338, fl nge nd a second portion overlying a supporting 238/342,340, 350, 343 surface. The second portion has at least one engagementportion for engaging in the supporting surface [56] Refer Cit d and isadapted to be secured to supporting surface UNITED STATES A wherebyrotational movement of the device is resisted. 3,552,649 l/l97l Burwell238/349 9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAR 12 I914 31796" 369 sum1 or 3 FIG. 4.

RAIL FASTENING DEVICES This invention relates to improvement in themounting of rails on supporting means; the supporting means being forexample a girder or gantry.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for use insecuring a rail for wheeled machinery or rolling stock to a supportingmeans comprising a first portion for overlying and engaging a portion ofthe rail and a second portion for overlying the supporting means,characterised in that the second portion has a surface for facing asurface of the supporting means and at least one engagement portionextending from that surface for engaging in the surface of thesupporting means, said second portion being adapted to be secured tosaid supporting means, whereby when the device is secured to thesupporting means rotational movement of the device is resisted.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described,

by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

-FIG. 1 shows a rear elevation of one embodiment of a device for holdinga rail relative to a supporting means, when unstressed;

FIG. 2 shows part of a side view of the device of FIG. 1 whenunstressed;

FIG. 3 shows a rear elevation of the device of FIG. 1 when stressed;

FIG. 4 shows part of a side of the device of FIG. 1 when stressed;

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation of a second embodiment of a device forholding a rail relative to a supporting means;

FIGS. 6 A, and 6 B show the device of FIG. 5 in plane and end elevation,respectively,

FIGS. 7 A, and 7 B show in plane and side elevation, respectively, athird embodiment for a device for holding a rail relative to asupporting means;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a section of FIG. 6 A, showing one system fortesting the rail mounting by the present invention;

FIGS. 9 A, and 9 B show a second system for testing rail mounting; and

FIGS. 10 A, and 10 B show a third system for testing the rail mountings.

The device of FIGS. 1 to 4 is formed by a generally rectangular plate 1of high grade spring steel, e.g., carbon steel. One edge (front edge) ofthe plate is planar and, in use is arranged to overlie and press down onthe flange of the rail. Intermediate the front and rear edges there is asingle aperture spaced centrally of the sides, for receiving a bolt onwhich a nut is screwed by which the plate is attached to the railsupporting structure, the bolt being welded to the supporting structure.The corner portions 3, 4 of the rear edge are bent downwards out of theplane of the plate, the plate being thus effectively bowed upwards sothat, when the sheet is bolted down, these pointed corners dig into thesurface of the supporting structure to locate the plate againstrotational movement. Correct tensioning of the bolt is obtained byproviding the plate with a depressed portion or dimple 2 at its rearedge'portion. When the plate is unstressedthe lower surface of thedimple 2 lies above the plane including the ends of the comers 3, 4.When the bolt is correctly tensioned the lower surface of the dimple 2comes into contact with the surface of the supporting structure.

The above described device has the particular advantage in that only onebolt is required to attach it to the supporting structure, rotationalmovement of the plate around the bolt being prevented by the positiveengagement of two portions 3, 4 of the plate in the surface of thesupporting structure.

A number of these devices are secured to the supporting structure atintervals along the length of the rail and on either side of the rail.

However, the device of FIGS. 5, 6A and 68 also is formed by generallyrectangular plate 10 of high grade spring steel. This is arranged tooverlie and press down on the flange 15 of a rail. The device is locatedon a bolt 16 by nut 17, the bolt being welded to the supportingstructure 18. The corner portions 13, 14 of the rear portion of theplate are bent downwards out of the plane of the plate along lines 10a,extending between 'the rear and adjacent side edges thereof such thatthe corners dig into structure 18 to-locate the plate against rotationalmovement. Correct tensioning of the bolt is obtained by providing amember or pack 19 of resiliently deformable material, inserted betweenthe flange and the device at its front edge. The plate is provided withone or more apertures 20 into which the pack 19 is deformed ontensioning of the bolt; the correct tensioning being obtained when theeffective volume of the aperture is changed by a predetermined amount ashereinafter described.

The device of FIGS. 7A and 7B is different to that of FIGS. 1 and 5 inthat it is formed of a generally pentagonal plate 31 of high gradesteel. In use, the front edge 31a is arranged to overlie and press downon the flange of the rail, while a single rear corner 31b is bentdownwards out of the plane of the plate. Thus, the comer 3lb will diginto the surface of the supporting structure to locate the deviceagainst rotational movement when the plate is bolted down by atensioning bolt passing through aperture 35. As with the device of FIG.5, a member or pack of resiliently deformable material is positionedbetween the plate and the rail flange, and correct tensioning isdetermined by displacement of the pack into an aperture in the plate.One form of tensioning system is depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B, in which amember or pack 19 or resiliently deformable material is inserted betweenthe rail flange l5 and the plate 10 of the device. That of the platewhich overlies the flange of the rail is provided with an aperture 20into which part of the pack 19 intrudes to a greater or lesser extentwhen the clip is bolted down to the structure supporting the rail, forexample a gantry or girder, dependent on the bolt tension. A gaugewhich, as shown, comprises two parts 42, 43 is provided havingprotruberances 42a, 43a of different lengths which are shaped to fitinto the aperture 20. In operation if the protruberance 43a of gauge 43fits completely into the aperture 20 then the bolt 26 is too loose. Ifthe pack intrudes into the aperture to the extent that the protruberance42a of gauge 42 exactly fits into the aperture with the adjacent surfaceof the gauge 42 in contact with the upper surface of the clip then thetensioning is correct. The bolt has been too greatly tensioned if thegauge 42 does not fit completely into the aperture 20.

In a second system, shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the pack 19a is providedwith a shaped recess 44 which, when the plate 10a is bolted down onflange 15a, is compressed and distorted. If the bolt is correctlytensioned a gauge 45 will just fit into the distorted recess.

In a third system shown in FIGS. A and 10B, the pack 19b is narrowerthan the plate 10b. If the tensioning of the plate is correct a portion46a of gauge 46 will fit into the gap between the plate 10b and flangeb. If the portion 46b of gauge 46 fits into the gap or portion 46a doesnot fit into the gap the tension is too small or too great. As analternative the extent of deformation of the pack 19b can be determinedby measuring the extent to which it bulges into the gap.

The pack is made of an elastomeric material, for example, an oilresistance fairly hard rubber such as neoprene.

I claim:

1. A construction comprising a rail for wheeled machinery or rollingstock, supporting means for the rail, said rail being mounted on saidsupporting means by a spring plate secured to the supporting means andholding the rail relative thereto, the spring plate comprising a firstportion overlying and engaging a portion of said rail and a secondportion overlying the supporting means, the second portion having asurface facing said supporting means and at least one engagement portionextending from said surface and engaging in the surface of thesupporting means, said second portion being secured to said supportingmeans, whereby rotational movement of the spring plate is resisted, aresiliently deformable member between said first portion of the firstmember and said portion of the rail, said spring plate being secured tothe supporting means by securing means adjustable to vary the force withwhich said spring plate holds the rail relative to the supporting means,one of the spring plate and resiliently deformable member having anaperture the volume of which is changed on deformation of theresiliently deformable member whereby the extent of deformation of thesecond member can be determined to determine the force.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion hastwo spaced engagement portions, a connection securing said secondportion to said supporting means intermediate said engagement portions.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second portion isgenerally planar, said engagement portions being bent out of the planeof the second portion, and said second portion being provided with afurther portion extending out of the plane of said second portion andcontacting the supporting means.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion hasa single engagement portion and is secured to the supporting means by asingle connection intermediate that engagement portion and an edge ofthe first portion remote from that engagement portion. 5. A constructionas claimed in claim 1 wherein said first portion of the spring plate isprovided with an aperture into which the resiliently deformable memberintrudes to an extent dependent on said force the extent of intrusionbeing determinable.

6. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilientlydeformable member is provided -with a shaped recess whose shape isdeformed to an extent dependent on said force, the extent of deformationof the shape being determinable. v

7. A construction according to claim 1 wherein said resilientlydeformable member is made of oil-resistant elastomeric material.

8. A method of mounting a rail ona supporting means comprising the stepsof positioning the rail on the supporting means, placing a first memberto'overlie a portion of the rail, positioning a second resilientlydeformable member between said first member and said portion of therail, securing the first member to the supporting means so that thefirst member exerts a force on said rail to deform the deformable memberand hold the rail relative to the supporting member, and furtherincluding the step of measuring the extent of said deformation of thesecond deformable member to determine said force by measuring the extentof intrusion of the second member into an aperture in the portion of thefirst member overlying the second member, said force being adjustable togive'a predetermined deformation of the second defonnable member.

9. A method of mounting a rail on a supporting means comprising thesteps of positioning the rail on the supporting means, placing a firstmember to overlie a portion of the rail, positioning a secondresiliently deformable member between said first member and said portionof the rail, securing the first member to the supporting means so thatthe first member exerts a force on said rail to deform the deformablemember and hold the rail relative to the supporting member, and furtherincluding the step of measuring the extent of said deformation of thesecond deformable member to determine said force by measuring the extentof deformation of the shape of a shaped recess in the second member,said force being adjustable to give a predetermined deformation of thesecond deformable member.

1. A construction comprising a rail for wheeled machinery or rollingstock, supporting means for the rail, said rail being mounted on saidsupporting means by a spring plate secured to the supporting means andholding the rail relative thereto, the spring plate comprising a firstportion overlying and engaging a portion of said rail and a secondportion overlying the supporting means, the second portion having asurface facing said supporting means and at least one engagement portionextending from said surface and engaging in the surface of thesupporting means, said second portion being secured to said supportingmeans, whereby rotational movement of the spring plate is resisted, aresiliently deformable member between said first portion of the firstmember and said portion of the rail, said spring plate being secured tothe supporting means by securing means adjustable to vary the force withwhich said spring plate holds the rail relative to the supporting means,one of the spring plate and resiliently deformable member having anaperture the volume of which is changed on deformation of theresiliently deformable member whereby the extent of deformation of thesecond member can be determined to determine the force.
 2. Aconstruction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion has twospaced engagement portions, a connection securing said second portion tosaid supporting means intermediate said engagement portions.
 3. Aconstruction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second portion isgenerally planar, said engagement portions being bent out of the planeof the second portion, and said second portion being provided with afurther portion extending out of the plane of said second portion andcontacting the supporting means.
 4. A construction as claimed in claim 1wherein said second portion has a single engagement portion and issecured to the supporting means by a single connection intermediate thatengagement portion and an edge of the first portion remote from thatengagement portion.
 5. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidfirst portion of the spring plate is provided with an aperture intowhich the resiliently deformable member intrudes to an extent dependenton said force the extent of intrusion being determinable.
 6. Aconstruction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resiliently deformablemember is provided with a shaped recess whose shape is deformed to anextent dependent on said force, the extent of deformation of the shapebeing determinable.
 7. A construction according to claim 1 wherein saidresiliently deformable member is made of oil-resistant elastomericmaterial.
 8. A method of mounting a rail on a supporting meanscomprising the steps of positioning the rail on the supporting means,placing a first member to overlie a portion of the rail, positioning asecond resiliently deformable member between said first member and saidportion of the rail, securing the first member to the supporting meansso that the first member exerts a force on said rail to deform thedeformable member and hold the rail relative to the supporting member,and further including the step of measuring the extent of saiddeformation of the second deformable member to determine said force bymeasuring the extent of intrusion of the second member into an aperturein the portion of the first member overlying the second member, saidforce being adjustable to give a predetermined deformation of the seconddeformable member.
 9. A method of mounting a rail on a supporting meanscomprising the steps of positiOning the rail on the supporting means,placing a first member to overlie a portion of the rail, positioning asecond resiliently deformable member between said first member and saidportion of the rail, securing the first member to the supporting meansso that the first member exerts a force on said rail to deform thedeformable member and hold the rail relative to the supporting member,and further including the step of measuring the extent of saiddeformation of the second deformable member to determine said force bymeasuring the extent of deformation of the shape of a shaped recess inthe second member, said force being adjustable to give a predetermineddeformation of the second deformable member.